In 2023, Suzy learned she had metastatic breast cancer (stage 4), for which there is currently no cure. Since then, she’s traveled to Switzerland, Ireland and did a Mediterranean cruise. She’s hoping to visit Japan next. This is her story in her own words.
‘Don’t Worry, it’s Nothing’
It was late 2022 and I was living my life, busy with family, friends and a career I loved. I’ve spent 17 years as a respiratory therapist, helping others through some of their hardest days. I never expected that one day, I’d be the one needing help.
My journey began with a lump under my collarbone and frequent pain in my left breast. Despite voicing my worries, I was told, ‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing.’ I was told what I was feeling was due to stress, especially since I’d had a clear mammogram the year before.
Trusting My Intuition
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Trusting my intuition over the doctor’s advice, I pushed for the lump’s removal. However, the health care backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic meant waiting an entire year for the surgery.
In February 2023, I went into that procedure expecting a quick and easy surgery, but nothing went as planned. Little did I know, this was the beginning of an agonizing journey. What I thought would be a straightforward procedure turned into the starting point of a discovery I never imagined: a breast cancer diagnosis with metastasis to unknown origins.
‘It’s De Novo Metastatic Breast Cancer’
Over the course of two months, I had scans, tests and three bone biopsies, and in April 2023, I was blindsided with my diagnosis: de novo metastatic breast cancer with metastasis to my bones.
I was driving to San Diego to see my son when the doctor called. He said, ‘I’ll be with you every step of the way.’ I pulled off the road and called my husband, then my daughter, and then I pulled myself together and kept driving. My son had a whole day planned for us.
Our family is full of healthcare professionals, my daughter is a nurse practitioner and my sister is an ER nurse, so receiving my diagnosis was devastating for everyone. Despite all that medical knowledge around me, and despite advocating for myself, I still fell through the cracks.
Starting MBC Treatment
Hearing the words “stage 4,” especially after being told it was “nothing,” was a staggering blow. You can never truly prepare for the moment your world shifts on its axis, when your breath is stolen away and everything changes in the blink of an eye.
I was given a prognosis of two to three years by my oncologist. I began targeted treatment in May 2023 and by December, I received the words I had longed to hear – no evidence of active disease. It felt like a miracle, yet it was accompanied by a mix of emotions. It was a moment of quiet triumph, a spark of hope but also a reminder of the journey I was still on.
Embracing the In-Between
I’m learning to live in the in-between. I stepped away from my job to focus on living life, really living it. I’ve laughed harder, cried more freely and found strength I never knew I had. I’ve leaned on my husband, my kids and my sister. Every day, I choose to keep moving forward with hope, gratitude and love. My advice is to trust yourself, lean on those who love you and never give up.
Susan G. Komen would like to thank Merck for their generous support of the MBC Impact Series Program.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
